Punta Arenas, Čile

Discover Punta Arenas on foot and immerse yourself in the daily life of one of the world's southernmost cities: Walk amid its landmarks to Plaza de Armas square, with its colonial buildings and the statue of Magellan. Reach the museum, which reveals the secrets of Patagonia and then the pioneer house, today a boutique hotel, where you'll enjoy a... very tasty surprise.

• Walk through Punta Arenas starting from Bulnes street
• Monument to the Shepherd; Cemetery; Plaza de Armas square; Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint: Photo stops
• Maggiorino Borgatello Salesian Museum: Interior visit
• La Yegua Loca Boutique Hotel: Aperitif with local produce

• Walk through the streets of Punta Arenas: Your first stop is the Monument to the Shepherd, a tribute to the settlers who developed agriculture and sheep farming in the 19th century – before then, the city was just a penal colony.
• Pass through the cemetery and enter the Salesian Museum, which chronicles the history, habitats and native traditions of Patagonia: Would you like to know more? The region has no secrets for your guide, take advantage!
• Other colonial buildings and the town hall overlook Plaza de Armas square. Here's the statue of Magellan: Around here, it's rumored that if you kiss its toe you'll never suffer from seasickness again and will return to Punta Arenas, always sailing on tranquil waters. Might as well try it!
• Then, go up to the city's upper part and to the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint: Apart from the colorful houses of Punta Arenas, you see exactly what Magellan saw when he was the first to navigate the strait. Did you know that Tierra del Fuego island is basically still the same as it was then?
• Although brief, the climb will make you hungry and at the pioneer house, turned into a boutique hotel, a snack with local produce awaits you. Enjoy!

• It is essential that you wear warm, layered clothing in order to fully enjoy and participate in this excursion. Outer layer should be waterproof and windproof. Bring gloves, a warm hat and a scarf.
• You must climb a long flight of stairs to reach some of the displays at the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum and most of the exhibit interpretive panels are written in Spanish only.
• The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

• Strait of Magellan
• Magdalena island, penguin colony
• Walking, lighthouse

• We start with a drive from the pier to embark on a speedboat for an excursion in the Strait of Magellan, which used to be an essential natural passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean until the completion of the Panama canal in 1914, as well as the only safe way to pass between the two oceans. After approximately two hours, we reach our destination * the island of Magdalena, located 40 km north of Punta Arenas and 16 km off the Chilean coast. The island is one of the most unspoilt nature reserves in South America and is home to a large colony of Magellanic penguins as well as cormorants and many other bird species. • We also admire the largest penguin colony in southern Chile. In 1982, the island of Magdalena was declared a national monument with the name Monumento Natural Los Pinguinos (Natural Penguin Monument). This is in fact a leading reproduction centre for different sea birds, including Magellanic penguins, of which around 63,000 couples have been estimated in 2007 and which we observe in their natural habitat. • A lovely moderate walk takes us to the lighthouse towering on the hill at the centre of the island, from where we enjoy evocative views.

• A packed light lunch will be provided during the excursion.
• Getting close or touching the animals is strictly prohibited.
• It is not possible to take photos using the flash in the areas in which the animals live.
• We recommend you wear warm clothing, that you bring sun cream with you and a hat as weather conditions can vary greatly. Hiking shoes, water, hat, and a raincoat are highly recommended.
• This excursion involves coach travelling and a stretch on the speed boat.
• This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or wheelchair users as walking on uneven terrain is required.
• Navigation to Magdalena Island might be rough, guests prone to sea sickness should take it into consideration.
• The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

Enter into the history of the Strait of Magellan: You'll stop at Cerro de la Cruz, seeing the same sights that Magellan saw when he was the first to navigate the strait, and then you'll visit Forte Bulnes, the first Chilean outpost in Patagonia, with its church, prison and powder magazine, virtually frozen in time. Did you bring your camera to capture the most unmissable views over the strait?

• Sightseeing bus tour toward the Park of the Strait of Magellan
• Cerro de la Cruz: Photo stop
• Forte Bulnes: interior visit and free time

• The discovery of the Strait of Magellan, the most important natural connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, has made the history of navigation: A difficult route to take, but much less so than the dreadful Cape Horn Passage.
• Follow your guide off the bus and look out over the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint: You'll see the colorful houses of Punta Arenas as well as, over the water, Tierra del Fuego, just like Magellan saw it when he was the first to navigate the strait.
• Reach Forte Bulnes for a veritable jump back in time: The church, the chaplain's living quarters, the gunpowder magazine and the post office are still standing. All remains as it was when, in 1843, twenty-two adventurers built it in the name of the Chilean government. Can you imagine how life was like then?
• From here, the view over the strait and its windswept waters is incredible: You have all the time to take photos and buy some souvenirs: You'll go back to the ship with a fragment of this place at the extreme edge of the continent.
  

• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the experience. * The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

Immerse yourself into nature around the Strait of Magellan: Enter Forte Bulnes, the first Chilean outpost in Patagonia, and follow the trail that unwinds into the forest, amid scenery overlooking the coast and privileged views over the entire strait. At the Park's visitor center a tasty surprise awaits you: It's said that those who drink it will return to Patagonia!

• Sightseeing bus tour toward the Park of the Strait of Magellan
• Forte Bulnes: Interior visit
• Walk from Forte Bulnes to the Park's visitor center
• Visitor center: Aperitif with local produce

• The adventure begins on the bus, along the panoramic road that from Punta Arenas skirts the sea southbound.
• Your destination is Forte Bulnes, a national monument built in 1843 by twenty-two adventurers, in the name of the Chilean government: It includes the church, the chaplain's living quarters, the prison, the gunpowder magazine and even a post office.
• Then, with your trekking guide, walk the trail that unwinds along the Strait of Magellan: Could you ever have imagined such a thick green forest?
• At every turn, catch new sights over the bays and the entire strait – Tierra del Fuego on one side, the rest of the continent on the other.
• Did walking make you hungry? At the visitor center an aperitif with local produce and “calafate sour”, the region's symbolic drink, awaits you. Its secret ingredient? The purple calafate berries, which are picked in summer around here.
• It's said that those who drink it will return to Patagonia and you should make a wish as you sip it. Have you already thought of yours?

• Wear trekking shoes and warm layered clothing, don't forget a waterproof and windproof jacket, gloves, hat and neck warmer. * The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

• The itinerary follows gravel roads.• It is not easy to predict weather conditions at Punta Arenas, however we recommend you wear comfortable shoes and warm and waterproof clothing and to dress in layers, bring a jacket in case of rain.* The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

Discover the iconic sights of Punta Arenas, the city on the Strait of Magellan: From your comfortable bus seat, colonial buildings and landmarks go by, such as the statue of Magellan and the pioneer club. On the main square, you have time for some shopping, as well as for some photos, though you'll snap the most at the viewpoint overlooking Tierra del Fuego and the entire city – your camera is all charged, right?

• Sightseeing bus tour of Punta Arenas
• Monument to the Shepherd; Cerro de la Cruz; Plaza de Armas square; Monument of Magellan: Photo stops
• Free time

• Punta Arenas is one of the world's southernmost cities – it really is, if you consider only urban centers of a certain size.
• Step on the bus with your guide for a comprehensive tour: Get off at the Monument to the Shepherd and capture it from every angle – did you know that before the 19th century and the development of agriculture and sheep farming Punta Arenas was just a penal colony?
• At the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, you can take photos of the scenery overlooking the city, the strait and Tierra del Fuego: Yep, it still looks exactly like Magellan saw it when he was the first to navigate these windswept waters.
• Your destination is Plaza de Armas, the main square, with its colonial buildings and the pioneer club, the most elegant palace.
• The statue of Magellan, deserves a kiss, as well as a photo: It's said that those who kiss its foot will always sail on tranquil waters and will return to Punta Arenas for sure… without feeling seasick!
• Yes, there are also a lot of stores: What, won't you go in for some healthy shopping?

• The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

...an islet in the third bay, where there were many large birds... This is how Magellan described the island of Magdalena the first time he sailed the strait. The tour gives us the chance to observe the penguin colonies on the island just like the famous Portuguese sailor did.

• Strait of Magellan
• Magdalena island, penguin colony
• Walking, lighthouse

• We embark on a catamaran for an excursion in the Strait of Magellan, which used to be an essential natural passage between the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean until the completion of the Panama canal in 1914, as well as the only safe way to pass between the two oceans. After approximately two hours, we reach our destination - the island of Magdalena, located 40 km north of Punta Arenas and 16 km off the Chilean coast. The island is one of the most unspoilt nature reserves in South America and is home to a large colony of Magellanic penguins as well as cormorants and many other bird species. • We also admire the largest penguin colony in southern Chile. In 1982, the island of Magdalena was declared a national monument with the name Monumento Natural Los Pinguinos (Natural Penguin Monument). This is in fact a leading reproduction centre for different sea birds, including Magellanic penguins, of which around 63,000 couples have been estimated in 2007 and which we observe in their natural habitat. • A lovely moderate walk takes us to the lighthouse towering on the hill at the centre of the island, from where we enjoy evocative views.

• A packed light lunch will be provided during the excursion.
• Getting close or touching the animals is strictly prohibited.
• It is not possible to take photos using the flash in the areas in which the animals live.
• We recommend you wear warm clothing, that you bring sun cream with you and a hat as weather conditions can vary greatly. Hiking shoes, water, hat, and a raincoat are highly recommended.
• This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or wheelchair users as walking on uneven terrain is required.
• Navigation to Magdalena Island might be rough, guests prone to sea sickness should take it into consideration.
• The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.

• Punta Arenas, La Cruz hill, panorama
• Maggiorino Borgatello Museum
• Museo del Recuerdo
• Cemetery, Plaza de Armas

• We pass through Punta Arenas, the main city in southern Patagonia and capital of the Magellan and Chilean Antarctica region. After a short journey, we reach the La Cruz hill, where we make a brief stop to take a few pictures and admire the amazing panoramic views of the city, strait of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego**.
• We then head towards the Regional Salesian Museum Maggiorino Borgatello, founded by the Salesians in 1893. There, we can observe images depicting everyday life of Primitive Patagonia, artefacts from the ona culture and a display of local flora and fauna.
• Our tour continues with the Museo del recuerdo at the Instituto de la Patagonia, an open-air museum with ancient machines and tools, wooden houses where city founders used to live, vehicles and numerous breeding tools.
• Our next stop is the cemetery with panoramic view. We can admire the magnificent mausoleums of the founding families and the carved stone where the onas (or selkman), i.e. the now extinct native Tierra del Fuego population, are buried. On our way back to the ship, we visit the main square, Plaza Muñoz Gamero or Plaza de Armas with its statue to Magella.

• We recommend you wear non-slip shoes and that you bring a hat, sun cream and windproof jacket with you as weather conditions can vary greatly.
• The tour can take place in the morning or in the afternoon.
• The narration of this experience will be conducted in either English or Spanish.